Physics Department History/ Past Events
Spring, 2007: Completed the now-infamous trebuchet.
Late Spring, 2006: Began the Trebuchet Project.
Spring, 2005: Advanced Lab project: Video a chaotic pendulum from below and analyze the motion.
Oct 7-9, 2004: Texas section of APS, AAPT in Waco, TX (Baylor University).
Apr 1-3, 2004: Texas section of APS, AAPT in Stephenville, TX (Tarleton State University).
Oct 23-25, 2003: Texas section of APS, AAPT in Lubbock, TX.
Mar 3-7, 2003: National APS meeting in Austin Tx. (See how much fun!)
Sep 30-Oct 2, 2002: Dirac Conference at Baylor University; letures and discussions related to P.A.M. Dirac's contribution to quantum mechanics (student trip sponsored by SMAB)
During the '01-'02 year, the SPS group wanted to design and build a catapult. They started with a small-scale kit, with the plan to expand it later. We attatched it to a stool, cocked it, and shot it. It shot about 40 yards, depending on what we shot. The big version didn't materialize until much later.
Apr 18, 2002: Dr. Christensen, Steve Slampa, and Dennis Conner go to Dr. Maniss' workshop, where Dr. Maniss is building a plane from scratch -- manufacturing many of the parts himself based on the plans drawn up by a qualifier engineer.
Feb 27, 2002: Canon Bradley (McMurry Physics Alumni '62) visits to talk to current students about the trebuchet project and give advice on life-after-McMurry.
October 4-6, 2001: Texas Section of the APS, AAPT in Fort Worth. (Meeting begins here and ends here. While at the meeting, some of us visited the clean room in the lab of Dr. Goeckner's brother.
April 5, 2001 (all day): Physics majors visit Texas Tech University to learn about graduate school opportunities in their Masters and Masters with Internship programs.
March 23-25, 2001 (all day): Dr. Thompson brings honors astronomy students to the McDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, Texas.
March 5, 2001 (3:00pm): Physics Seminar
Nov 2-4, 2000: Physics Trip to INSPECTION 2000 at NASA JSC.
March 9-11, 2000: Joint Meeting of APS, AAPT, & SPS (Texas A&M)
